Abhay Karandikar

About

Currently, I am serving as Member, NITI Aayog, Government of India, where I contribute to India’s development journey through science, technology, innovation, emerging technologies, inclusive growth, and evidence-based policymaking.Prior to this, I served as Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, from October 3, 2023 to May 17, 2026. During my tenure, I was closely involved in operationalizing several transformative national initiatives, including the National Quantum Mission, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) & the ₹1 Lakh Crore Research, Development and Innovation Fund to support cutting-edge R&D in the private sector and deep-tech startups. Several major initiatives were also advanced in clean energy, green hydrogen, advanced materials, geospatial technologies, manufacturing, R&D infrastructure, technology incubation, and international R&D collaborations.Before joining the Government of India as Secretary, I served as Director, IITK from April 2018 to September 2023. I joined IIT Bombay in April 1997, where I served as Dean of Faculty Affairs, Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, first Professor-in-Charge of IIT Bombay Research Park, and Head of the Computer Centre.My research has focused on telecommunications, networks, 5G/6G technologies, affordable broadband access & standards-driven innovation. My research group has made significant contributions to AI-driven programmable protocols for 6G and to global standardization efforts in 5G and 5G-Advanced. Our work contributed to the development of IEEE 1930.1, the first IEEE standard emerging from Indian efforts led by our team, and IEEE 2061, focused on affordable broadband networks. We have also contributed to 3GPP 5G-Advanced in satellite communications, broadcast-broadband convergence, energy-efficient networks, and wireless relays.I was the founding member & former Chairman of the Telecom Standards Development Society India (TSDSI) from 2014 to 2018, and served as Member (Part-Time), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) from January 2018 to January 2021. I also served on the Board of Governors of the IEEE Standards Association from January 2022 to December 2023.My work in technology policy, regulation, research, & standardization has been recognized nationally and internationally. I received the IEEE SA Standards Medallion in 2016 and am a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy & the Indian National Academy of Engineering. I have also been conferred an Honorary Doctorate by King George’s Medical University.